Violin with Brian F.

My musical interest began as early as I could remember. One of the most comforting and interesting things to do as a child was play with musical instruments like the toy keyboards, xylophones or drums, and of course singing! I found a voice, a magical place, where I could be myself and express deeper feelings than were made possible by talking. After hearing a string quartet, the violin called to me in every millisecond of sound, I heard it as if it were me playing. I began lessons at age five, and here I am today! Still finding the mystical powers in every practice and teaching session. Between then and now, I managed to accomplish some musical dreams of mine. At age fourteen, I performed a solo with the Long Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra. I went to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts for the second half of my high school, and for most of my undergraduate studies. There, I grew unmeasurably and will forever be grateful to Kevin Lawrence, my violin professor at UNC School of the Arts. The value and sacred quality of studying music on that level continues to deepen in significance for me as time goes on. As a performer I am grateful to have worked closely with some wonderful conductors and been invited to serve as concertmaster in ensembles such as, Symphony Orchestra of the Americas, Garden State Philharmonic, Taghkanic Chorale, Litha Symphony and Utopia Opera. Others I have played with include, Wordless Music Orchestra, Clarion Society, Orchestra Modern, Empire Chamber Orchestra, Winston Salem Symphony, Fayetteville Philharmonic, and Long Bay Symphony.